Heat exchange device



May 14, 1935. c. T. WALTER 2,001,085

HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1934 INVENTOR Wz'fness- B c mw MQMATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT FFHCE HEAT EXCHANGEDEVICE Application July 25, 1934, Serial No. 736,828

21 Claims.

The invention relates vice.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practicaland comparatively inexpensive heat exchange device of strong, durableconstruction, designed particularly for chilling fluid products, such ashot lard, and adapted to distribute the fluid product to be chilled in athin sheet and subject the same internally and externally to arefrigeration medium whereby the velocity of the fluid product throughthe machine may becompartively rapid and at the same time enabling theheat exchange device to be built compartively short, thereby greatlyfacilitatingaccurate machining of the parts of the heat exchanger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange deviceof this character equipped with means for agitating the liquid and forcleaning and maintaining a maximum efficiency of the refrigerationsurfaces by rolling contact and without scraping the refrigerationsurfaces, thereby providing a heat exchange machine of extremely longlife and with its performance both uniform and dependable.

Another object of the invention is to enable the rolling contact membersor rolls of the:

cleaning and agitating means to support a rotor for rotative movementand thereby eliminate bearings ordinarily employed for mounting such arotor.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accom panying drawing and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion and minor details of construction,within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a heat exchange device constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the heat exchange device partly insection and partly in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transver line 3-3 of Fig. l.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention the heat exchange device which is designedprimarily for chilling fluid products, such as hot lard, may, of course,be employed for e sectional view on the to a heat exchange deheatingfluid products by circulating a heating medium through the machineinstead of a cooling medium, and it comprises in its construction a mainshell I of cylindrical form constituting a tubular casing and providedwith inlet and outlet pipes 2 and 3 for. the introduction and removal ofthe liquid product to be chilled, suitable pumping means (not shown)being in practice employed for circulating the fluid product through themachine. The main shell has its inner face machined to form a straightsmooth cylinder and it is surrounded exteriorly by an outer jacketforming shell 4 extending from one end portion of the main shell to theother and having an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 for enabling the cooling orrefrigeration medium to be circulated by pumping through the jacketspace 1 formed by the outer shell 4. The outer shell 4 is provided atits ends with closure rings 8 constituting the end walls of the jacketspace 'I and forming annular flanges extending inwardly from the outershell 4 to the main shell I, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawing. These annular flanges may be formed in any other desired mannerand when the rings 8 are employed for this purpose they are suitablysecured to the ends of the jacket 4 and to the exterior of the mainshell I.

The outer shell forming jacket which extends substantially the length ofthe main shell terminates slightly short of the ends thereof to providespaces at the 'ends of the main shell for the inlet and outlet pipes 2and 3 which communicate with the interior of the main shell I.

The main shell I is provided at its ends with heads 9 which are boltedto annular flanges in extending outwardly from the ends of the mainshell. The heads 9 which are circular are provided with central openingsII for the passage 40 of tubular shanks or extensions I2 of a rotor I3arranged within the main shell in spaced relation with the same toprovide an intervening space between the rotor and the main shell forthe circulation of the fluid product to be chilled and also for cleaningand agitating means hereinafter described. The rotor is hollow andcylindrical and its outer face is machined to form a straight smoothcylindrical surface and the said rotor is of a diameter to 56 provide arelatively narrow intervening space between it and the main shell, asclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The tubular shanks are provided at their inner ends with enlargements l4forming outwardly extending annular flanges which are suitably securedwithin the ends of the rotor and which constitute reduced extensions ofthe same.

The heads 9 of the main shell I are provided at their inner faces at theopenings II .with annular recesses I5 receiving oil sealing rings I1which form a tight joint between the heads of the main shell I and thetubular shanks I2 to prevent leakage of liquid from the main shell. Therotor which is adapted to receive a chilling or refrigeration medium isdriven by suitable driving mechanism preferably including a gear wheelI8 keyed or otherwise secured to one of the tubular shanks I2, and asany suitable driving mechanism may be employed for rotating the rotor,further description and illustration of the same is deemed unnecessary.The chilling or refrigeration medium is pumped through the rotor whichis connected at the said tubular shanks with inlet and outlet pipes I9and 20 by suitable stufling boxes 2|.

Instead of employing a cooling or refrigeration medium a heating mediummay, of course, be circulated through both the jacket space and therotor and by circulating a heat exchange medium through the jacket space7 and the rotor I3 the fluid product to be chilled is subjected bothinternally and externally to the action of the temperature changingmedium while it is distributed throughout the machine in a relativelythin sheet and the velocity of the fluid product through the machine iscomparatively rapid and the heat exchange device may be builtcomparatively short so that the interior of the main shell I and theexterior of therotor may be accurately machined.

In order to maintain the heat exchange surface of the main shell I andthe outer heat exchange surface of a rotor I3 clean and free from anyfrozen product which may tend to insulate either of the refrigeratingsurfaces and reduce the efiiciency of the heat exchange device, cleaningmeans is provided and is located in the intervening space between therotor and the main shell I. The cleaning means comprises an annularseries of rolls 22 of a diameter corresponding tothe depth of theintervening space and having a rolling contact with both the innersurface of the main shell I and the outer surface of the rotor I3 andadapted to contact with such surfaces substantially throughout theentire length of the rotor. The contact between the rolls and theadjacent surfaces of the main shell and the rotor is firm and willsqueeze out any thin film of material that may be frozen against suchrefrigeration surfaces. The contact of the rolls with the refrigerationsurfaces eliminates any insulating effect which may be brought about bya tendency for the hot fluid to freeze to the refrigeration surfaces andthe latter are maintained in a clean condition and at maximum efliciencywithout any scraping effect and the life of the machine will bematerially increased and a comparatively long life assured by suchrolling contact between the cleaning means and the refrigerationsurfaces, and at the same time the cleaning means will be uniform anddependable in the performance of its function of maintaining therefrigeration surfaces free from frozen material and at maximumefliciency. The rollers are spaced apart and maintained in proper spacedrelation by an annular series of longitudinal spacer bars 23 interposedbetween the rollers and rigidly secured at their ends to rings 24 whichhave an easy running fit on the rotor I3. The ends 25 of the spacer barsare preferably reduced and rigidly secured in openings 26 in the rings24, but any other suitable means may, of course, be provided for rigidlysecuring the annular series of spacer bars to the end rings. The spacerbars 23 are arranged in spaced relation with the inner refrigerationsurface of the main shell and the outer refrigeration surface of therotor to provide passages for the fluid product which is agitated by therollers and the spacer bars. This agitation of the fluid product by therollers and the spacer bars subjects the fluid product more thoroughlyto the action of the refrigeration surfaces. The crimping and agitatingmeans occupies the greater portion of the intervening space between theinner surface of the main shell and the outer surface of the rotorso'that the fluid product is distributed or separated into a relativelythin sheet during its passage through the heat exchange device so thatthe velocity of the fluid product through the device is comparativelyrapid.

The annular series of cleaning rollers which contact with both the mainshell I and the rotor I3 support the rotor for rotary movement andobviate the necessity of employing bearings for the hollow tubularshanks or any other form of bearing for journaling or mounting therotor. The rollers may be pre-loaded, if desired. The heat exchangedevice is particularly adapted for chilling fluid material such as hotlard, and cold brine .or any other suitable refrigerant may becirculated through the jacket space and through the rotor while the hotlard or other product is pumped through the inlet 2 and through theintervening space between the main shell and the rotor and along therollers and spacer bars. As the rollers and spacer bars occupy the majorportion of the space between the rotor and the main shell the quantityof fluid within the intervening space and subjected to the coolingaction of the refrigeration surfaces of the main shell and the rotor iscomparatively small and as the movement of the fluid product may becomparatively rapid it will be clear that the heat exchange device ishighly eflicient. The rotor may be caused.- to turn by applying power tothe driving means and the rollers will also be caused to revolve aroundthe rotor in the annular space between the same and the main shell. Asthe rollers revolve in the said intervening space they will contact witheach refrigeration surface substantially the full length of the surfaceof the shell and will completely contact with substantially the fullarea of the surface of the rotor in their cleaning action.

The heat exchange device is designed to be provided with suitablesupporting legs 29 which may be of any desired construction and whichare preferably located at the end portions of the heat exchange device.

What is claimed is:- I

1. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, and cleaningmeans located in the intervening space between the main shell and therotor and having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor forcleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same, said cleaningmeans also supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

2. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced also supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

3. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, and cleaningmeans located in the intervening space between the main shell and therotor and having an annular series of rollers extending substantiallythe length of the rotor and having rolling contact with the shell andthe rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same,said rollers supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

4. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom ,to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combinedcleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spacedlongitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and therotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same andsupporting the rotor for rotative movement, and spacing means locatedbetween the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spaced relation.

5. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet andputlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combinedcleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spacedlongitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and therotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same andsupporting the rotor for rotative movement,

, and longitudinal spacer bars arranged between the rollers andmaintaining the same in proper spaced relation. I

6. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobechilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combinedcleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spacedlongitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and therotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same andsupporting the rotor for rotative movement, longitudinal spacer barsarranged between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spacedrelation, and means for supporting the spacer bars in spaced relation tothe shell and the rotor to provide passages for the fluid product.

7. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combinedcleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spacedlongitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and therotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof. without scraping the same andsupporting the rotor for rotative movement, longitudinal spacer barsarranged between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spacedrelation, and rings having a running fit on the rotor and connected withthe ends of the spacer bars and supporting the same in spaced relationwith the shell and the rotor to provide passages for the fluid product.

8. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for l space for the said fluid product, said rotorbeing provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chillingor heating medium, and cleaning and agitating means arranged in theintervening space between the shell and the rotor and comprising anannular series of rollers having a rolling contact with the shell andthe rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof and supporting the rotor forrotative movement,

and an annular series of longitudinal cylindrical spacer bars arrangedbetween the rollers in spaced relation with the shell and the rotor.

9. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, cleaning andagitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell andthe rotor prising an annular series of rollers having a rolling contactwith the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof andsupporting and comthe rotor for rotative movement, an annular series oflongitudinal cylindrical spacer bars arranged between the rollers andrings having a running fit on the rotor and rigidly connected with theends of the spacer bars and supporting the same in spaced relation withthe shell and the rotor to provide passages around the spacer bars forthe fluid product.

10. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, an outer shellmounted on the main shell and forming a jacket spaced for a chilling orheating medium and having an inlet and outlet for the introduction andremoval of the same, and cleaning means operating in the interveningspace between the main shell and the rotor.

11. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and an outlet for the, introduction and removal of a fluid productto be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads havingcentral openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the mainshell in spaced relation with the same to'provide an intervening spacefor the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends withtubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the mainshell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium,and cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening spacebetween the shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elementshaving a rolling contact'with the shell and the rotor and supporting therotor for rotative movement.

12. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid productto be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads havingcentral openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the mainshell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening spacefor the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends withtubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the mainshell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium,cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having arolling contact with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotorfor rotative movement, and sealing rings mounted in the heads of themain shell and surrounding the tubular shanks and forming a liquid tightjoint to prevent the escape of liq- .uid from the main shell.

13. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid productto be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads havingcentral openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the mainshell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening spacefor the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends withtubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the mainshell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium,cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having arolling contact with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotorfor rotative movement, and an outer jacket forming shell mounted on themain shell and forming an intervening jacket space and provided with aninlet and an outlet to permit the circulation of a chilling or heatingmedium through the jacket space.

14. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid productto be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads havingcentral openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the mainshell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening spacefor the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends withtubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the mainshell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium,cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space betweenthe shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having arolling contact with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotorfor rotative movement, sealing, rings mounted in the heads of the mainshell and surrounding the tubular shanks and forming a liquid tightjoint to prevent the escape of liquid from the main shell, and an outershell mounted on the main shell and forming an intervening jacket spaceand provided with an inlet and an outlet to permit the circulation of achilling or heating medium through the jacket space.

15. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product tobe chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within themain shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for thesaid fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a temperature changing medium, and cleaningmeans located in the intervening space between the main shell and therotor and having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor forcleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same.

16. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having aninlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid productto be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged withinthe main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space forthe said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and anoutlet for the passage of a temperature changing medium, and

cleaning means having an annular series of rollers arranged in theintervening space between the rotor and the main shell and having arolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfacesthereof without scraping the same.

17. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and aninner cylinder and' rotatable rollers in contact with and between theinner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surface ofsaid inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping.

18. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and aninner cylinder and rotatable rollers in contact with and between theinner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surface ofsaid inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping,said rollers being rotatable on fixed axes.

19. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and aninner cylinder and spaced rotatable rollers in contact with and between'the inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and theouter surfaceof said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping,said rollers being rotatable on fixed axes, and spacing means locatedbetween the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spacedrelationship.

20. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and aninner cylinder and spaced rotatable rollers in contact with and betweenthe inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surfaceof said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping,the surface of said inner cylinder being rotative relative to the axesof said rollers.

21. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and aninner cylinderand spaced rotatable rollers in contact with and betweenthe inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surfaceof said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping,said outer cylindrical shell and said inner cylinder being rotativerelative to each other.

CHARLES T. WALTER.

